The Villainess Reika-sama

[98]

After the athletics carnival, Tomoe-senpai and I became a small topic of discussion.

"I had no idea you were so close to the former President."

"To think he'd announce his victory and smile at you like that. Could it be that there's actually something between you two?"

My friends loved talk about romance, so all of them were looking excited and expectant.

"I admire and look up to Tomoe-senpai very much, but we are not in the sort of relationship you are all imagining. If strange rumours caused trouble to him, I would not be able to face him..."

I made sure to quickly put out the fire.

"Ehhhh~ But you were cheering for him so passionately, Reika-sama. When I saw you two like that it sent my heart pounding, you know!"

"Me too!"

"But gosh, the former President was so dashing~! And he was even Champion!"

"He really was cool! I actually found out that he won last year too! He's the two-time champion!"

"My!"

It looks like my heart wasn't the only one pierced by his smile. Everyone was using our interaction as an excuse to keep talking about him.
Hmmmm~ What do I do. It was basically nothing, but a rumour was a rumour...

When I heard the same rumours at the Pivoine Salon, that was when I started to worry a little.
After all, his actual girlfriend Kasumi-sama was here.

"I had no idea you were close with that Tomoe guy," started a third year upperclassman.

"Yes. He helped me a great deal when I was a class representative in middle school. I was made the vice representative of my class again this year, so he has been helping me once again."

"Ah, I see. I'm begging ya, at least don't tell me you like him or something."

"Goodness. Tomoe-senpai is somebody I respect very much."

Uuu, Kasumi-sama didn't seem too offended, but...
I couldn't imagine it was a good feeling to watch people gossip about your boyfriend and some other girl. I was rash.
Some of the older girls began talking about Emperor, so I used that topic change to get away. Kasumi-sama was sitting further away on a sofa, so I sidled down next to her.

"Kasumi-sama."

"My, Reika-sama. Gokigen'yoh," she said, meeting me with a smile.

"Ummm... I am unsure how to apologise for this, but..." I whispered.

"My! Huhu, don't tell me you were worried about me? I'm completely fine."

"Truly?"

"Truly. And he's honestly surprisingly popular so this isn't even close to the first time this has happened."

"Eh-, is that so!?"

"Yep. So don't you worry, Reika-san. Senju was happily telling me about how you cheered for him, you know?"

"Ah...haha"

Since she really didn't seem to mind, I let out a tentative sigh of relief. I was like the homewrecker villainess by birth, so I was worried I might one day break up some couple by accident.

"More importantly, you really gave me a shock when you appeared in that rat costume. Whatever came over you?"

"Eh?"

Kasumi-sama gazed at me worriedly.

"The girl who was supposed to participate injured herself, so I became the replacement."